James Bond Watches Blog

James Bond wore a Seiko Memory-Bank Calendar quartz watch in "Moonraker" (Eon Productions, 1979)

This one’s for those who just want a clean, jewelry-store-type photo of their James Bond watch.

Not that I’m gonna head on in chronological order now with future image releases.

But I would like to note here how far and how fast things were already moving in the quartz revolution. The James Bond watch computer wallpapers last week focused on The Spy Who Loved Me, premiering in 1977. Just two years later, James Bond wore the watch model shown here in Moonraker (1979).

Although the bracelet was different, I actually wore a Seiko Memory-Bank Calendar James Bond watch in college. Not this exact piece, mind you; but still — another personal connection.

In terms of wristwatch technology, more options and greater sophistication in menu navigation. As I wrote for Revolution magazine in 2010, even as James Bond watch capabilities were expanding (well, subject to limits on what could be sold to the general public), case sizes were getting thinner.

This image shows continue reading…

James Bond watch choices among the most memorable features of 007 movies

The UK Mail Online today has a feature story on the 50 most memorable images from James Bond on-screen.

Second-to-top on the list: James Bond watches.

In total, specific wristwatches worn by the James Bond character were referenced 5 times. And that doesn’t include the “Villain’s watch garotte,” worn by Red Grant in From Russia with Love (coming in at number 35) nor the non-watch “Wrist dart gun” from Moonraker (47).

Curiously, the first James Bond watch named, at number 15, is the “Rolex with laser,” from Never Say Never Again. Not an Eon Productions movie. And, whatever the watch is, it is definitely not a Rolex.

In total, Rolex is named by brand three times. Rolex is the only watchmaker specified for Agent 007 by Ian Fleming in the original books. Jeffery Deaver put a Rolex on his James Bond in the novel Carte Blanche last year. The last movie-Bond to wear a Rolex was actor Timothy Dalton, with a reference 16610 Submariner Date in Licence to Kill, Eon Productions, 1989.

Only one other James Bond watchmaker is cited in this top 50: Seiko.

Showing up with room to spare at number 47, the “Seiko detonator watch” appeared in Moonraker, Eon Productions, 1979. Hat’s off to the marketing power of Seiko for this achievement. Seiko hasn’t been officially associated with James Bond since 1985, when actor Roger Moore wore 3 in A View to a Kill.

On the other hand, it’s stunning to see how little mindshare impact that Omega appears to be getting from the money it’s put into the James Bond movie and video franchises.

The Omega name appears nowhere on this top 50 list. continue reading…

James Bond Seiko Memory-Bank Calendar watch: Model SFX003, case number M354-5019, as specified for Roger Moore as 007 in Moonraker

This is only the second exclusive James Bond Watch Photos website image for the Moonraker Seiko.

Rest assured: Those of you looking for reference images of the Seiko model SFX003, case number M354-5019 wristwatch worn by Roger Moore as 007 in the 1979 Eon Productions 007 movie, “coffee table book” pictures will be coming out later this year.

Meantime, the context here is James Bond watch in space, earth orbit, with Moonraker shuttle in background.

The image was made with the Seiko M354 suspended in front of a model of the shuttle. After setting up the basic lighting and determining proper exposure, I added a more intense, narrow beam from the right. The idea was to create the impression of rear engines firing. And a bit of flare in the overall result.

Depth of field adjustment on the space shuttle and motion effect were continue reading…